BASCO, BATANES — Authorities recovered an estimated ₱166.6 million worth of suspected shabu discovered by a local fisherman along the shoreline of Barangay Kaychanarianan, officials reported.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Batanes, the fisherman initially thought the sacks he found on June 19 contained tea and kept them for safekeeping. Upon later inspection, he noted the white crystalline contents resembled shabu and promptly reported it to authorities.

He voluntarily turned over one partially opened sack containing 24 vacuum-sealed plastic packs and one loose pack labeled “Daguanying,” all filled with the suspected illegal substance.

The total recovered weight was approximately 24.5 kilograms. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Batanes Provincial Office has since taken custody of the items for laboratory testing and proper disposition.